International Cat Day

Aug. 8 marks International Cat Day, a feline festivity that was started in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Cats can tolerate extreme heat, not showing signs of discomfort until skin temperatures exceed over 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

On 18th October 1963, a French cat named Felicette, also known as Astrocat, was the first and only cat to go to space. She launched atop a Veronique AG1 rocket and flew nearly 100 miles above the earth. 15 minutes later, she returned to earth safely by parachuting down in her space capsule.

According to a study, all domestic cats are descendants of a Middle Eastern wildcat whose name, Felis sylvestris, translates to “cat of the woods.”